Whilst searching for something or other on online, I came across a lovely photo of the late,fabulous Betty White. Did you know she once hosted the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade from the 1960 to the early '70s. Who knew? The Casa du Borghese says: Can we bring back this tradition please? Take a look at our beloved Betty in action along with her co-host, Lorne Green, who also hosted with her. Of course, this was back when the parade was fun to see, and not plug for all pop star and Broadway shows. When I worked for Bloomingdales, who was owned by Macy's, we too had the opportunity as part of the organization to partake in the parade as balloon handlers. My boss always tried to get me to do it every year. I told her she must think I'm nuts to say yes, and leave the warmth of my house, and getting up at the wee hours of the morning to drive into the city to handle a balloon!!! Plus, we always had family dinner anyhow. Not to mention those huge crowds. I'm fine with watching it right on the tube. Now these days we usually watch the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade then watch the Macy's Parade just to see and hear the marching bands. I can only suspect it must have been a blow when Betty ended hosting the parade. Adore these photos of her.
These images of Betty White make me miss her a lot.
ReplyDeleteI see Ms White was in favour of dressing up, Mr Green not so much
ReplyDeleteNice jaunt down memory lane!
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't be surprised that Betty hosted the parade. She did every other job in television. Betty was the best.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Tundra Bunny here... I don't remember going to any Santa Claus Parades when I was a little girl, only because it was always so frickin' cold on the prairies! What stands out more was watching the Rose Bowl Parade for the first time on our new colour TV in the early '70's... we couldn't believe those big, beautiful floats were all made of flowers!
ReplyDeleteOh yes the Rose Bowl Parade! I don't know they even still have it? They were insanely gorgeous floats. I remember when I was a wee one, about 11 or 12, we'd watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade followed by coverage of other thanksgiving parades...they would air Philadelphia, then Detroit, and then end in Honolulu. That is long gone too. Not it's just the Macy and the Philadelphia Holiday parade but aired separately.
Delete"I Love A Parade, the tramping of feet,
ReplyDeleteI love every beat I hear of a drum.
I Love A Parade, When I hear a band,
I just want to stand and cheer as they come.
That rat-a-tat-tat,
The blare of a horn,
That rat-a-tat-tat,
A bright uniform,
The sight of a drill,
Will give me a thrill,
I thrill at the skill of anything military.
I love A Parade, a handful of vets,
A line of cadets or any brigade
For I Love A Parade!"
Love Betty White, too. Of course. Jx
*throws confetti and streamers around Jon singing in his gaiety*
DeleteAwww, I know you are a balloon handler from way back. They could've used your expertise, Mads!
ReplyDeleteI hate parades, myself. I do love Betty White, though, and Lorne Greene for that matter. That deep voice.
Oh cool down girl!!!! I think... back in the day you'd be angling for a romp with him down on the Ponderosa!!!!!
DeleteMads, honey, sweetie, sugar pie, Bonanza started when I was three and ended when I was seventeen. That romp would've been kind of problematic! Now, the original Battlestar Galactica, on the other hand, YUM! My tastes are odd, but they're mine. Now I can't get the Bonanza theme out of my head!
DeleteYou forgot to mention that now there are commercials every 3 minutes, usually after every balloon or float passes by.
ReplyDeleteAnd what Dave said!!!! At least the Philadelphia station doesn't air commercials every 5 minutes.
DeleteIt's wild to think about her in her younger days. I hardly recognize her
ReplyDeleteBetty made everything betty-er.
ReplyDeleteBetty could have only made the parade better.
ReplyDeleteBig says, Could you imagine Kathy Griffin commentary? 🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteBetty White! What a delight she was. These days, sweetpea, we no longer watch the parade because the littles are too old for it and the krewe are too busy cooking. The MITM and I read the paper and drink "coffee" until it's dinner time! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWe don't watch as much as it is background noise anymore, whilst we do the cooking lambchop!
DeleteWow, I'd forgotten she and Lorne Greene hosted the parade. Does THAT bring back memories. Yes, she'd be wonderful to bring back, if still around.
ReplyDeleteI remember them well.Betty White and Lorne Greene were a class act. Better than we have today. Of course, the parade was also better then too.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Mistress! I love me a parade. Give me the pomp and circumstance! The balloons and the confetti! I had no idea Betty White hosted the parade for that long. Must have been a tough act to follow.
ReplyDeleteBetty White was a National Treasure ( or should have been). But I have an earworm along the lines of "Out in the West, where the livin' is best..." I shall now wander over to Youtube and look for some old clips...
ReplyDeleteYou're going to get me started with that earworm Dinah.
DeleteSome clips of Betty White, not Bonanza. Of course.
ReplyDeleteI do remember watching and loving the parade hosted by Betty White when I was a kid. When I was in my early 20s, they were looking for a 6-ft-tall, slender person to wear the Goofy costume. I debated. I worked for an ad agency mid-town and my boss wouldn’t let me take the time to go down and apply because we had a big client coming in. Drat.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been a great memory playing Goofy.
DeleteThank you for the wonderful memories. Who doesn't LOVE Betty White? She was smart, witty, beautiful and still has a sparkle in her eyes!
ReplyDeleteThose were the good ol' days when I could actually tolerate watching the parade. And you actually saw the parade, not the big names and the commercializing.
ReplyDeleteThat gal had some of the best dimples in show business! Lovely pictures
ReplyDeleteYou evidently haven't seen my ass then.
DeleteYes, we all loved Betty, but she's now gone.
ReplyDeleteBut I can still hear her....she'll spot one of those balloons bearing down on 6th avenue
and announce, "Oh my, here comes that dear Kate Smith!
Maybe she'll sing 'God bless America' for us?"
Bwahahahahahahahaha
DeleteGrowing up it was the JL Hudson parade in Detroit.
ReplyDeleteWe used to watch it on tv!!!
DeleteNow those were the days. I miss them both.
ReplyDeleteThis was the parade where Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis were dressed-up as Herman Munster and Grandpa, being driven in the Munster Koach. Fred had a paper bag and some booze in the bag he kept drinking and drinking..... Fred smiled, waved to the crowds and shouted "FUCK YOU!!!" over and over. When he sobered up and found out what he did, he was mortified. Whether or not Betty or Lorne heard this (or heard about it) will forever remain unknown.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard that story. That's pricless!
Delete